Coin operated control system for bowling alleys



Aug. 4, 1964 H. GREENWALD COIN OPERATED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Aug. 16, 1961 INVENTOR Harry Greenwald ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,143,345 COIN OPERATED CGNTRGL SYSTEM FGR BOWLING ALLEYS Harry Greenwaid, 14947 Powells Cove Blvd, Whitestone, N.Y., assignor of one-third to Louis Wolif, and

one-third to Harry Silbergiait, Brooklyn, N.Y.,

Filed Aug. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 131,894 Claims. (Cl. 273-54) This invention relates to a coin operated mechanism for controlling the operation of automatic pin-spotters in bowling alleys.

With the rapid increase in popularity of bowling and the wide use of automatic pin-spotters in bowling alleys, bowling alley installations frequently comprise as many as 30 to 60 alleys in a single installation. When all of the alleys are in use, it will be apparent that attendants are kept quite busy servicing the same. Furthermore, the attendants must rely upon each player, upon the conclusion of his game, to pay to the attendant the indicated charges for such game. It is thus possible for a number of players to be overlooked despite the conclusion of their game, as the attendant is busy servicing other players.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a coin operated control device for each alley of a bowling installation; such device being associated with the automatic pin-spotter of the particular alley to allow normal operation of the same only when sufficient coins are inserted into the device which correspond to the set cost of at least one game and to automatically deactivate the pin-spotter at the end of the 10th frame of the game.

It is understood that conventional pin-spotters are designed to operate in terms of two balls per frame unless a strike is thrown, in which case the mechanism operates for a single ball in that particular frame. However, if a strike is made in the tenth frame, the player is entitled to two extra balls; in which case the frame calls for a total of three balls, rather than the usual two or one. Also, if in the tenth frame a player makes a spare in the usual two balls, he is also entitled to a third ball.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a coin operated device of the character described, which includes means for sensing the number of players engaged in a particular frame by virtue of the total amount of money inserted into the device; together with means for sensing and accumulating the number of balls thrown by each player in a given frame, distinguishing strike balls to determine a single ball frame; accumulating the number of frames played taking into account t e total number of players; automatically sensing a limit of two balls for each player in each frame except the last frame, in which case a strike made in the last frame is sensed and automatic provision is made for a total of three balls in such last frame; and further, to sense a spare made in the last frame and to further provide for a total of three balls in such case frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin operated mechanism of the character described, which includes a master control operable manually from a central point by an individual in charge, to allow the mechanism to accept inserted coins and become operable under designated conditions of play; and an alternative control which places the mechanism under full automatic operation when the individual in charge is unable to operate the master control; in which case the mechanism will be operable at any time the correct amount of coins is inserted therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described, which includes a pre-setting control means for setting the device for pre-edetermined ice charges per game which are satisfied by the insertion of coins totaling such charge, or multiples thereof to reflect more than one player; said pre-setting control means being resettable at will for varied charges in accumul'ae tive increments of five cents.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, means for accumulating the amount of coins inserted therein for totals reflecting the charge for single game by a single player or a single game by a plurality of players, and means for wiping out any excess amount of coins as registered on the accumulating means, to allow the device to become operative in terms of the total number of players indicated by the registered amount of money.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, means for controlling the device in a manner to reject coins inserted in the device after the device has been made operative for a given number of players by inserting initially coins in an amount corresponding to the given number of players.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, means made operative in the event that an inserted coin becomes jammed in the coin feeding mechanism, to deactivate the device until the coin receiving mechanism is restored to its normal condition.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing, the single figure is a wiring diagram for the coin operated control device embodying the invention.

In conventional automatic pin-spotters, the mechanism essentially comprises a pin table, pin sweeping means, pin conveyor and aligner, spotter and re-spotter means, and appropriate relays and switches for controlling the operation of the same, taking due account of a twoball frame or a single ball frame. Such spotter includes as essential control elements thereof, a back-stop switch which is operated each time a ball drops into the pit at the end of the alley; a sweep switch which is actuated to sweep all fallen pins into said pit after any standing pins are lifted for respotting; and a strike switch which operates only when no pins are left standing after either the first or second ball is rolled.

As indicated in the figure, the pin-spotter mechanism is generally indicated at ES and is energized from power lines A, B. The back-stop or ball switch of such mechanism is indicated at 163; the sweep switch at 11 and the strike switch at 12. Such switches are interconnected to the coin operated mechanism of the instant invention, which includes coin operated switches generally indicated at 13. The switches 13 comprise in serial connection, a 50 switch at 14, a 25 switch at 15, a 16 switch at 16 and a 5d switch at 17. The usual coin rejector magnet coil 18 associated with such coin operated devices, is connected in series with switches 117.

The coin switches 14, 15 and 16, respectively control the operation of coin relay coils 19, 20 and 21 which are connected on one side to line B through a common connection 22. Means is provided to determine if the coin mechanism shall accept inserted coins. To this end, a centrally located, manually operated switch 23 must be momentarily closed, as by the one in charge, to energize a relay coil 24 which is kept in an energized condition by closing of its contacts 24A, while its contacts 24B are shifted to allow relay coils E-Zl to be energized upon insertion of coins in any of the coin operated switches 1446.

Means is provided to register and accumulate the coins inserted into the coin operated switches 13 and further, circuit means which may be pre-set at positions corresponding to the determined charge for an individual game per player, such means being varied as the charges change. To this end there is provided a wafer switch 25 which has its contacts respectively connected to the corresponding contacts of a stepper switch 26; the contacts of switch 25 representing sequentially 5; increments, and the manual setting of said switch being such as to reflect the charge for a single game per player. Thus, a setting of switch 25 at its #6 contact would represent a charge of 30 per game.

Assume that the game charge is 30 and a single player is involved. A 25 coin inserted in the coin op erated switch will pulse relay coil and thus close its contacts 29A, 20B and 20C while opening its contacts 29D. The closing of contacts 20C will hold relay coil 21 while the closing of contacts 29A will energize a motor 27 which activates a switch arm 27 so as to sweep a set of contacts indicated at A to K. As contacts 293 are closed, the sweep of contacts D to H will pulse coil 26A of stepper switch 26 five times and thus step switch arm 2613 to the #5 contact of switch 26. With contact 26]) open, coil 18 is de-magnetized and accordingly, the coin operated switches 13 will not accept any other inserted coins during the scanning cycle.

On inserting a 5;: coin in coin operated switch 17, coil 25A will be directly pulsed to advance the stepper switch arm 263 to the #5 contact, at which time, a circuit is completed through the #6 contact of switch 25 to energize coil 28A of an accumulator stepper switch 28 and thus advance stepper switch arm 28B to the #1 contact, signifying a single game has been paid for. Switch contacts 26D in series with wipe-out coil 26C are opened each time coil 26A is energized and when switch arm 26B has reached a contact which closes the circuit to coil 28A, arm 28B is stepped by coil 28A before coil 26C is energized to restorearm 2633 to its 0 position.

It is apparent that if two dimes and two nickels are inserted in coin operated switches 16, 17 respectively, then relay coil 21 through closed contacts 21A, 21C will be energized twice to operate scan motor 27 each time; and thus close a circuit through switch arm 27 and scanning contacts B, C and relay contacts 21B, to thereby pulse coil 26A a total of 4 times to advance stepper arm 26B to its #4 contact. Coil 26A will be directly pulsed twice from switch 17 and thus will advance stepper switch arm 2613 to the #6 contact and advance arm 283 to its #1 contact.

At this time, the player may operate a game start switch 36 which energizes a relay coil 31; contacts 28C having been shifted when coil 28A was energized, and thus relay contacts 31A are shifted to hold coil 31 and current is now supplied to the pin-spotter mechanism PS through line L and switch S. Also relay contacts 31B are shifted to energize wipe-out coil 26C to restore switch arm 268 to its 0 position and the circuit to stepper coil 28A is opened through open relay contacts 31C. Also relay contacts 31D are closed to illuminate a game start light 31E.

Once game start switch is operated, coins will not be accepted by the coin operated switches 13, since coin rejector coil 18 is de-energized due to the open circuit at contacts 21D, 20D, or 19E. Also, scan motor 27 is protected against repeated cycling if a coin should get stuck in any of the switches 14-17, by means of a relay coil 32 which is energized at the end of each scanning cycle to close its contacts 32A32C, and open contacts 32D which in turn opens the circuit to all relay coils 19-21 and thereby opens contacts 20A, 21A, and in turn opens the circuit to motor 27. The closed contacts 32A32C allows coil 32 to remain energized by way of the particular coin actuated switch held closed by a stuck coin, despite the continuation of the scanning cycle, thereby leavingrelay contact 32D open to de-energize relay coils 19-21 as described above.

When the player rolls his first ball, ball switch 10 is closed as the ball falls into the pit at the end of the alley and thereby energizes coil 33A of a stepper switch 33 to advance stepper switch arm 3313 from its 0 position to #1 contact in open circuit. The second ball will again operate switch 10 to advance arm 333 to its #2 contact. Sweep switch 11 closes in response to the operation of the spotter mechanism PS to sweep the fallen pins, and closes a circuit to wipe-out coil 33C of switch 33 through a stepper switch 38 whose arm 33B is at its #1 contact which is connected to the #2 contact of switch 33. Energized coil 33C restores the stepper switch arm 33 to its 0 position. Switch 11 in still closed and will thus energize a coil 34A of a stepper switch 34 to advance switch arm 3413 to its #1 contact and thus close a circuit to a coil 35A of a stepper switch 35.. Thus switch arm 35B is advanced to its #2 contact, indicating the start of frame #2. Coil 34A also opens its contacts 341) each time it is energized to allow arm 343 to be advanced before coil 35A is energized to advance arm 35B and coil 34C is energized to restore arm 3iB to its 0 position. This operation is similarly repeated for every frame in which neither a strike nor' a spare is rolled.

However, if the first ball rolled in any frame other than the 10th frame is a strike, switch 10 is closed to advance switch arm 33B to its #1 contact position as previously described; and strike switch 12 is closed due to the absence of standing pins when mechanism PS operates; thus wipe-out coil 33C is directly energized to restore switch arm 33B to its 0 position immediately; thereby energizing coil 34A of switch 34 when the sweep switch closes in normal sequencing to advance its arm 343 to indicate a complete frame, as previously described.

If a spare is rolled in any frame other than the tenth frame, the two balls rolled will cause switch arm 33B to be advanced to the #2 contact of switch 33. After the rolling of the second ball, strike switch 12 will close to complete a circuit to wipe-out coil 33C which will restore stepper switch arm 33B to its 0 position. When the sweep switch 11 closes in accordance with normal sequential pin setter cycling, coil 34A of stepper switch 34 will be energized to advance its arm 34B to indicate a completed frame, as previously described.

Assuming that the player starts the 10th frame with a strike, which permits a total of three balls in the 10th frame; then stepper switch arm 35B now at the #10 contact position, will cause a relay coil 37 to be energized and thereby shift switch 37A from its original position to place the strike switch 12 in circuit with coil 38A of switch 38 which operates stepper switch arm 383 to advance from its #1 contact to its #2 contact position. Contacts #1 and #2 of switch 38 are connected to contacts #2 and #3 respectively at switch 33. Switch contacts 38D are also opened making operation of strike switch 12 thereafter ineffective. When wipe-out coil 38C 1s energized to restore arm 38B to its 0 position, contacts 38D are reclosed.

When the player rolls his second ball in the 10th frame, after a strike, switch arm 33B is advanced to its #2 contact position, which is now in open circuit. With the third ball in this frame, switch arm 33B is at its #3 contact position at which time a circuit is closed through the #2 contact at switch 38 to energize wipe-out coils 33C and 38C.

The wipe-out coils 33C and 38C thus restore switch arms 33B and 3813 to their 0 position and #1 contact position respectively. The closing of sweep switch 12 will thus energize coil 34A to advance arm 34B and in turn energize coil 35A to advance arm 35B from its #10 to its #11 position.

Thus the close of the 10th frame will find arm 35B in its #11 position, which will energize wipe-out coil 28D to restore stepper switch arm 28B to its 0 position; energize wipe-out coil 35C of switch 35 to restore switch arm 35B to its #1 position and to shift switch 28C to its original position, thus de-energizing relay coil 31 and thereby opening the circuit to the spotter mech- 5 anism PS. Relay contacts 31B, 31C and 31D will be restored to their original position.

With more than one player, the total amount of coins inserted into coin operated switches 13 must equal a corresponding multiple of the set charge per game. Thus, with two players and a 30 charge per game, then coins totaling 60 must be inserted, each coin being operative to energize the motor 27 through its scanning cycle to step the switch 26. In this case, coil 28A will be pulsed twice, to move stepper arm 28B to its #2 position, indicating two players. Thus, stepper arm 343 will be stepped to its #2 position in response to action of stepper coil 34A which will be pulsed twice in response to two balls or a strike for each player, as previously described, before stepper arm 35B is stepped by its coil 35A to signify the end of a frame.

When a 50 coin is inserted in the coin operated switch s 13, coin switch 14 is pulsed to energize relay coil 19, to close contact 19A-19D and open contact HE, thereby holding relay coil 19 and also energizing relay coils 1? and also energizing relay coils ill and 21 to close their contacts 20A and 21A to energize the scanning motor 27 which will scan the contacts 27B27K to find them in circuit and will thereby pulse stepper coil 26A a total of ten times, in the manner previously described.

When a spare is made in the 10th frame, which will cause switch arm 333 to be advanced to its #2 contact, the strike switch 12 will have previously closed due to the absence of any standing pins after the rolling of the second ball and will energize coil 38A to advance switch arm 383 to its #2 contact and closure of sweep switch 11 will find an open circuit between switches 33 and 35. The energization of coil 33A opens switch contacts 381). The 3rd ball may now be rolled to advance switch arm 333 to its #3 contact position and thereby close a circuit to wipeut coil 33C through contacts #2 of switch 33 to restore switch arm 333 to its 0 position and thereby energize coil 34A as previously described, and in turn energize coils 35C and 28D and to shift contacts 28C to deactivate mechanism PS.

A light L is illuminated when switch 23 is closed, signifying that the meter 13 is ready to receive coins. A light 31E is illuminated when the game start switch 30 is operated, through the action of relay 31, signifying the start of the first frame. Lights L are in circuit with each of the contacts of switch 35, to be successively illuminated as each frame starts. The manually operated switch 23 may be bypassed by closing switch 23A. This permits coins to be inserted into coin switches 13 to operate the device as previously described.

If switch S is shifted, pin setter mechanism PS is directly connected to power lines A, B through switch S to thereby allow operation of mechanism PS independently of the coin control system described above.

If coins are inserted into coin operated switch 13, which total more than the total charges for a game, then accumulator switch 26 will show a credit of the balance. Thus assuming a 30 charge per game and a quarter and dime ar inserted into switches 15, 3.6 respectively. Then switch arm 263 will be advanced to the #6 contact position at which time coils 28A and 25C are energ zed to advance switch arm 28B and to restore switch arm 26B to its 0 position.

However, with a total of 35 inserted in switches 15, 16, contacts BH will be in circuit and upon scanning, by arm 27', coil 26A will be pulsed a total of seven times, thus advancing switch arm 263 to its #1 contact position after being brought back to the 0 position. This will represent a credit on switch 26, which credit is wiped out when switch 30 is closed to start the game, since closing switch 30 will energize wipe-out coil 26C, as previously described, to thus restore switch arm 26B to its 0 position.

If, before closing switch 39, additional coins are inserted in meters 13 to supplement said 5:; credit and add 6 up to another 30 total, then an additional player may thus be added, causing switch arm 28B to be advanced accordingly, to register the same on switch 28.

As various changes may be made in the embodiment herein disclosed without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter herein described or shown shall be deemed to be illustrative and not limiting except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bowling pin spotter system having an electrically operated pin spotter mechanism, a ball switch, a strike switch and a sweep switch, means for controlling the operation of said system to render the said mechanism inoperative at the end of 10 complete frames, comprising circuit means including said mechanism, said switches and coin actuated switch means for accepting coins of different denominations, accumulative coin registering means, accumulative player registering means, accumulative ball registering means and accumulative frame registering means, circuit means connecting said coin actuated switch means and said coin registering means for accumulatively registering the coins inserted into said coin actuated switch means, and means operative at a predetermined setting of said coin registering means corresponding to a predetermined charge per game per player, for actuating said player registering means to indicate the total number of players corresponding to the total amount of coins inserted into said coin actuated switch means, circuit means responsive to the operation of said ball, strike and sweep switches for actuating said ball registering means, circuit means connecting said ball registering means and said frame registering means for actuating said frame registering means in response to operation of said ball and sweep switches twice in succession in the absence of the operation of said strike switch, or to operation of said ball and sweep switches once while said strike switch is also operated, and circuit means responsive to the operation of said frame registering means after successive operation of said ball and sweep switches twice thereby registering the end of the 10th frame to open the circuit to said pin spotter mechanism.

2. A system as in claim 1 and further including circuit means connected to said frame registering means and responsive to the commencement of the 10th frame, to delay the conclusion of the 10th frame in response to the operation of said strike switch concomitantly with the first or second operation of said ball switch, until said ball and sweep switches are operated a total of three times in succession.

3. A bowling pin spotter system having an electrically operated pin spotter mechanism, a normally open ball switch, a normally open strike switch closed in response to the absence of standing pins at any time during the operation of said mechanism, a normally open sweep switch, means for controlling the operation of said mechanism comprising coin actuated switches operable upon insertion of coins of respectively different denominations, a coin registering stepper switch, a manually operated switch having the successive contacts respectively connected to the contacts of said coin registering switch, circuit means connecting said stepper switch and said coin actuated switches for stepping said stepper switch to a contact position thereof corresponding to the total amount of the coins inserted into said coin actuated switches, said manually operated switch being pre-set at a position corresponding to a predetermined charge per player per game, a player registering stepper switch, circuit means connecting said player registering switch and said coin registering switch and responsive to operation of said coin registering switch to a contact position connected to the pre-set contact position of said manually operated switch to step said player registering switch, a frame registering stepper switch, circuit means connecting said frame registering switch, said player registering switch, said ball, strike and sweep switches for stepping said frame registering switch in response to concomitant operation of said ball and sweep switches twice in succession while said strike switch is inoperative or a single concomitant operation of said ball, strike and sweep switches, and circuit means connected to the 11th contact of said frame registering stepper switch operative on the stepping of said last mentioned switch from the th to its 11th contact to open the circuit to said mechanism.

4. A system as in claim 3 wherein said first mentioned circuit means comprises a motor operated switch having a rotating arm and a plurality of contacts in circuit with said coin actuated switches, said plurality of contacts being scanned by the rotating switch arm to close circuits for pulsing said coin registering stepper switch in accordance with the total amount of coins deposited in said coin actuated switches.

5. A system as in claim 4 wherein each of said coin ac tuated switches has a relay coil in circuit therewith for controlling the operation of said motor operated switch.

6. A system as in claim 3 wherein said frame registering switch includes circuit means connected to the 10th contact thereof operative in response to operation of said strike switch together with the 1st or 2nd operation of said ball switch in said 10th frame to actuate said frame registering switch to pass from the 10th to the 11th contact position only upon the 3rd successive operation of said ball and sweep switches.

7. A system as in claim 3 and further including manu ally operated switch means operative to render said first mentioned circuit means operative upon insertion of coins in said coin actuated switches.

8. A system as in claim 3 and further including player operated switch means in circuit with said pin spotter mechanism and said first mentioned circuit means, said player operated switch means being operable to simultaneously open the circuit of said first mentioned circuit means and render said pin spotter mechanism operative.

9. In a bowling pin spotter system having a pin spotter mechanism and a ball switch, a sweep switch and a strike switch associated therewith, means for controlling the operation of said mechanism to render the same inoperative at the conclusion of 10 frames by a given number of players, said control means comprising coin actuated switch means for accepting coins of different denominations, sequential charge registering means pre-settable at a determined charge per player, sequential accumulator switch means in circuit with said coin actuated switch means and said charge registering means for accumulating units as determined by said determined charge per player, means for cumulatively registering the number of players in response to the operation of said accumulator means, means responsive to the operation of said ball switch, sweep switch and strike switch to register the number of balls for each player, frame registering means operating in response to the operation of said ball registering means for concomitantly registering each frame for said players, means in the 10th frame of said frame registering means for registering a total of three balls in response to the operation of said strike switch during the 10th frame, and circuit means for opening the circuit to said pin spotter mechanism in response to the operation of said frame registering means at the end of the 10th frame.

10. In a pin spotter system comprising an electrically operated pin spotter mechanism, a ball switch, strike switch and sweep switch associated with said mechanism, circuit means for connecting said mechanism to a power supply, means for controlling said circuit means comprising a plurality of coin switches actuated by insertion therein of coins of different denomination, a cumulative coin registering switch in circuit with said coin switches, a switch pre-settable to positions corresponding to charges per game per player, and in circuit with said coin registering switch, circuit means responsive to the operation of said coin switches for operating said coin registering switch into successive positions corresponding to the coins inserted into said coin switches, a cumulative player switch and circuit means connected thereto for operating said player switch in response to each operation of said coin registering switch at a position corresponding to the pre-setting of said pre-settable switch, an 11 position cumulative frame registering switch, circuit means connecting said ball, strike and sweep switches and said player registering switch to actuate said frame registering switch in response to operation of said ball switch and said sweep switch twice in succession while said strike switch remains inoperative or operation of said ball switch, said sweep switch and said strike switch concomitantly for each player indicated on said player registering switch, and circuit means connected to the frame registering switch means operative upon passing of said frame registering means from the 10th to the 11th posi-- tion thereof to operate said circuit control means to open the power circuit to said spotter mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,118,303 Hehn May 24, 1938 2,643,884 Koci June 30, 1953 2,650,149 Munz et al. Aug. 25, 1953 2,663,398 Skillman Dec. 22, 1953 2,983,510 Blewitt May 9, 1961 

3. A BOWLING PIN SPOTTER SYSTEM HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PIN SPOTTER MECHANISM, A NORMALLY OPEN BALL SWITCH, A NORMALLY OPEN STRIKE SWITCH CLOSED IN RESPONSE TO THE ABSENCE OF STANDING PINS AT ANY TIME DURING THE OPERATION OF SAID MECHANISM, A NORMALLY OPEN SWEEP SWITCH, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING COIN ACTUATED SWITCHES OPERABLE UPON INSERTION OF COINS OF RESPECTIVELY DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS, A COIN REGISTERING STEPPER SWITCH, A MANUALLY OPERATED SWITCH HAVING THE SUCCESSIVE CONTACTS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO THE CONTACTS OF SAID COIN REGISTERING SWITCH, CIRCUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID STEPPER SWITCH AND SAID COIN ACTUATED SWITCHES FOR STEPPING SAID STEPPER SWITCH TO A CONTACT POSITION THEREOF CORRESPONDING TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE COINS INSERTED INTO SAID COIN ACTUATED SWITCHES, SAID MANUALLY OPERATED SWITCH BEING PRE-SET AT A POSITION CORRESPONDING TO A PREDETERMINED CHARGE PER PLAYER PER GAME, A PLAYER REGISTERING STEPPER SWITCH, CIRCUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID PLAYER REGISTERING SWITCH AND SAID COIN REGISTERING SWITCH 